Rock Songs List of One Hit Wonders
The Trashmen - "Surfin' Bird"
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the classic rock songs list of one-hit-wonder music was possibly the most popular collection ever, featuring musicians of this one-hit variety. Many of these hits bring back early grade school memories as well as memories of beach parties at Tobay Beach on Long Island, NY. As a matter of fact, there were so many one-hit-wonder hits in these two decades that we've limited our list to the most memorable.
During grade school days, I became known as a class clown, which frequently included playing the drums on my desk as part of this routine. Most of the time I played "Wipe Out", which was an amazing 1963 tune by the Safaris. "Mule Skinner Blues" by The Fendermen (1960) was another favorite performance during class because of its yipping and yodeling.
In the early sixties, a kid's program called the Sandy Becker Show was a favorite. Sandy Becker was an eccentric comedian and puppet master who dressed in weird outfits and had several alter egos, two of which were Norton Nork and Hambone. Norton Nork was a good-natured simpleton who was guided through his day by a voice-over (also played by Becker). Hambone was a loony disc jockey -- sort of based on Wolfman Jack and Cousin Brucie. When these crazy characters appeared they were usually accompanied by music. Two such pieces I recall from 1963 were "Surfin Bird" by the Trashmen and "Mr. Bass Man" by Johnny Cymbal.
Looking Glass - "Brandy You're A Fine Girl"
Soul Survivors - "Expressway to your Heart"
Richard Harris - "MacArthur Park"
Some other influential early 60's one hit wonders were:
Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto (1962) Sung partly in Japanese
Rhythm of the Rain - the Cascades (1963)
(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet (1964) - the Reflections
Rip Van Winkle - the Devotions(1964) Included the sound effects of chipmunks bowling
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - the Silkie (1965) England's answer to Peter, Paul and Mary
Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey (1965) - the title song to the 1st James Bond movie
The Boy From New York City - The Ad Libs (1965)
Keep on Dancing - the Gentrys (1965)
Talk Talk - The Music Machine (1966)
Winchester Cathedral - The New Vaudeville Band (1966) A novelty song that had a megaphone/Rudy Valle (20's) quality to it.
They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Ha - Napoleon XIV (1966) This song, which was a bizarre depiction of mental illness, was banned from the New York airwaves.
Some late sixties one-hit wonders were:
1967
Come On Down to My Boat - Every Mother's Son
We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet - Blues Magoos
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield An early folk-rock group that included Neil Young and Stephen Stills
Green Tambourine - Lemon Pipers
Expressway to Your Heart - the Soul Survivors
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy band
Friday on My Mind - the Easybeats My favorite all-time one-hit wonder
1968
Journey to the Center of the Mind - Amboy Dukes An early band of Ted Nugent
Reach Out Of the Darkness - Friend and Lover
MacArthur Park - Richard Harris The first over 6-minute song played on top 10 radio in NY
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly An early psychedelic group with a 17-minute hit song
Pictures of Matchstick Men - Status Quo
You Keep Me Hangin' On - Vanilla Fudge
Angel of the Morning - Merrilee Rush Rush
My Pledge Of Love - Joe Jeffrey Group
Fire - the Crazy World of Arthur Brown
1969
Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' - Crazy Elephant
Baby, It's You - Smith
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam - chanted by home fans at sports stadiums when the visiting team is performing poorly
More Today Than Yesterday - Spiral Staircase Recently remade and sung by Diana Ross
Smile A Little Smile For Me - Flying Machine
Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman
Things I'd Like to Say - New Colony Six
The seventies were my partying years. Our group of cronies had many beach parties (keg parties) at Tobay Beach and Jones Beach, NY, in addition to house parties that included favorite drinks like Southern Comfort, Rum & Coke, and seven & seven. Some of the tunes loved by our group included one-hit wonders like Tighter, Tighter - Alive and Kicking (1970), Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image (1970), Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse (1970), and Reflections of My Life - Marmalade (1970)
Other early 70's one-hit wonders were:
1970
Spirit in the Sky - Norman Green Baum
The Rapper - Jaggerz
In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
Venus - Shocking Blue
My Baby Loves Lovin' - White Plains
Sweet Mary - Wadsworth Mansion
All Right Now - Free
O-o-h Child - the Five Stairsteps
Indiana Wants Me - R. Dean Taylor
Vehicle - the Ides of March
Are You Ready? - Pacific Gas & Electric
1971
Chick-A-Boom - Daddy Dewdrop
Put Your Hand in the Hand - Ocean
1972
Hold Your Head Up - Argent
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony) - Hillside Singers
Hot Rod Lincoln - Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen
Oh, Babe, What Would You Say? - Hurricane Smith Similar to "Winchester Cathedral" from 1966 with the megaphone sound
Beautiful Sunday - Daniel Boone
Bang A Gong (Get It On) - T. Rex
Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) - Looking Glass Became a #1 hit
1973
My Maria - B.W. Stevenson
Dead Skunk - Loudon Wainwright III
Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell Made famous in the Jon Voight/Burt Reynolds movie "Deliverance"
Brother Louie - Stories
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence The only hit by the sidekick to comedy legend Carol Burnett
Smokin' in the Boys Room - Brownsville Station
1974
Rock On - David Essex
Beach Baby - First Class
Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield Made famous by the horror flick "The Exorcist"
The Entertainer - Marvin Hamlisch Made famous in the Newman/Redford movie "the Sting"
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
Some Late 70's one hit wonders were:
1975
The Hustle - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony A popular dance of the times
1976
Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop
Turn the Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson
The Boys are Back in Town - Thin Lizzie Made famous in the Eddie Murphy/Nick Nolte film "24 Hours"
Play that Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Happy Days - Pratt & McClain Made famous by the sitcom of the same name
1977
Black Betty - Ram Jam
1978
Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
Love Is In The Air - John Paul Young
Because The Night - Patti Smith Group
King Tut - Steve Martin This novelty song by the famous comedian/actor became a popular dance
1979
I Don't Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats
Born to be Alive - Patrick Hernandez This song was a legendary dance tune that became very popular during the disco era
Video Killed the Radio Star - the Buggles
Makin' It - David Naughton This was a popular tune sung towards the end of the disco era by the actor made famous in the movie "An American Werewolf in London"
The one-hit wonder Rock Songs List during the sixties and seventies will be remembered as the most diverse and popular collection of music representing this niche forever.
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Comments
jeffkramer from Sparta, Wisconsin on February 13, 2014:
A fine list, though by far incomplete, but you picked the ones you remembered and liked. Whether or not they are true one hit wonders is and always will be subjective. Many groups had success in their home countries or on other charts besides the USA. And really, who's to say what makes a one hit wonder? Top 40? Top 100?
I guess the bottom line is that the music was good and we enjoyed it. Someone mentioned a CD, one CD would not be enough, you would need a box set and a lot of arguing to come even close to having a comprehensive list. A lot of your one hit wonders are little more than regional hits which were lucky enough to find their way to the big time via the novelty song or in some cases by mistake.
It also must be said that many of the one hit wonders were in a way victimized by time and place. Its hard to compete with the Beatles, the Stones etc... Given another month, or year and they may have found better success.
For me, its the regional songs that have always drew my attention. There are fabulous songs out there that have been only heard by a select few. In some cases it was bad timing, wrong location, lack of money, lack of airtime, and in some cases the group just didn't want to take the risk of taking their act out on the road.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on December 04, 2013:
Yep, I remember that one. I guess I'm pretty old too LOL!
DubbleM on December 03, 2013:
Maybe I did not see "One Eyed, One Horned Flying Purple People Eater."
Or maybe it just,"Purple People Eater." I seem to recall the name, Sheb Wooley? We thought it was great in the late 1950s. I can think of a few more, but I'm old now, so maybe later.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on May 17, 2012:
Stephanie, Here in the US I only remember the one hit.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on May 17, 2012:
Ausmaniac, Unfortunately here in the states there was only 1.
Kathy, you are absolutely correct!
kathy white on March 27, 2012:
i grew up in the 60s great music things has changes alot
Ausmaniac on March 04, 2012:
Regarding the Easybeats, they actually had 2 US Top 100 hits, the first being Friday on my mind in 1966 which peaked at #16. The 2nd was St Louis in 1969 listed at #100. See http://www.musicvf.com/The+Easybeats.art for reference.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on September 09, 2011:
Stephanie, thank you for the clarification. For the purposes of this hub I am only using tunes that were hits in the US.
Stephanie Buckley on September 09, 2011:
Pictures of Matchstick Men wasn't Status Quo's only hit! Down Down, Rollover Lay Down, Rockin' All Over the World, Whatever You Want, Caroline, Wild Side of life and others were hits in a number of countries. The Easybeats (singer George Young is the older brothers of AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young) also had about eight hits including Friday on My Mind in their home country Australia as well as the UK and Europe.
StephenSMcmillan on September 02, 2011:
Great.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on August 26, 2011:
luwy, Johnny Bristol might be who your talking about see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rukkwl8oCus&fea...
luwy on August 26, 2011:
There was a person that wrote, recorded and released a song in Battle Creek in late 70s or early 80s. Can anybody get this information. It was a 1 hit wonder and the person remained in oblivion.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on August 11, 2011:
I agree Len, It had a great sound
Gugulethu, yep, I love to browse youtube for many of my these old memories
Gugulethu Mokwebo from South Africa on August 11, 2011:
haha great list, just reminds me of some people I totally forgot they existed. Thanx for the share :)
Len on July 17, 2011:
Can't leave out "Incense and Peppermints", by The Strawberry Alarm Clock around 1967. It was a chart-topper at the time.
Little Kim from Any town U.S.A. on January 27, 2011:
I love Steve Martin's King Tut. Too funny! Glad I clicked on this hub. Lots of fun
GG on December 26, 2010:
Reply to Rockfan:
The song you were looking for is Kites by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound who later became Gentle Giant.
Matthew Frederick Blowers III from United States on November 25, 2010:
I loved this most comprehensive list of forgotten bands ...even though the songs reamin...popular even today....thanks for sharing this post~~~~MFB III
hypnosis4u2 from Massachusetts on October 11, 2010:
This is a great list. Some of the bands on the list though had a lot more than one hit - at least outside stateside.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on October 09, 2010:
Julz, I'm not sure there is such a CD out there. There are plenty of lists out there on the web. You could probably put your own CD together.
Also, I believe that Crowded House had a few other hits.
Julz on October 09, 2010:
Last night I dreamed of finding a CD of all the greatest one hit wonders to put on my iPod. Is there such a thing? Also, does Crowded House -- Don't Dream its Over -- qualify? Awesome tune!
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on August 26, 2010:
Thanks Dr. Dream,for that clarification. I'm sorry, I probably didn't really make it clear. I mentioned the hit by "Thin Lizzy" made famous in the movie "48 Hours". (not necessarily done by them in the movie)
Yep TJ, I'm sure that I left out a bunch of them. I'll probably need to write a second hub, entitled "More one hit wonders" Also, Thanks for the history. I actually didn't know that about Tony Ashton. Good stuff.
TJ Stevens on August 26, 2010:
You did leave off 'Resurrection Shuffle' by Ashton, Gardner & Dyke - 1971
Tony Ashton went on to join Deep Purple members Ian Paice & Jon Lord to form PAL.
Dr. Dream on July 12, 2010:
Just a nit about "The Boys Are Back In Town". There are two songs by this name. One, the hit by Thin Lizzy, is an electric guitar rocker. It wasn't in the movie "48 hours".
The one in the movie is by the Bus Boys. It's a piano-heavy R&B thing.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on March 04, 2010:
thanks LesP - that's very interesting
LesP on March 03, 2010:
On 1977 - Black Betty by Ram Jam. Just an FYI. This song was originally recorded in '29 (or close to it) by an old bluesman named Leadbelly. I have both versions. The Leadbelly recording is hard to find, but not impossible.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on November 04, 2009:
Another Rockfan - You could be correct. It's tough to tell the tune from the explanation
Another Rockfan on November 04, 2009:
Rockfan - I couldn't believe that you tried to describe a song based on "da da da da dada..." but the funny thing is I knew right away what song you were talking about!!!
That song is "Hush" by Deep Purple. I don't know if it fits the classic one-hit-wonder profile, but you definitely have something there, that song certainly had a hand in defining the sound of the time. I think it's an important one, often forgotten in lists of this kind. It was missing from my collection, I'll be rectifying that right away.
H Glick (author) from Riverhead,NY on September 17, 2009:
Nick - Thank You for the comments. I got most of this list from research I did from this site: http://www.onehitwondercentral.com/
My memory also confirmed other parts of the list
In addition, I need to mention that this list refers to US hits only
I will, however, state my opinion with two of your comments:
You stated:
"Easybeats had at least three hits - one of which went to number one before Friday on my mind, so they're out.
"
This is incorrect.
Check out : http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3046
It says there: "This was The Easybeats' only Top 40 hit."
You stated:
"Status Quo - you're joking right? I don't mean to be rude, but Status Quo must be one of the most famous bands in the world. They have had chart success with over sixty releases - more than any other band in history."
This is ABSOLUTELY incorrect in the US
Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictures_of_Matchstic...
It says there:
"Pictures of Matchstick Men" was the first hit single by Status Quo, released in January of 1968. It reached number seven in the British charts, number eight in Canada, and number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their only hit single in the United States.
Nick B from Normandy, France on September 11, 2009:
Okay, you're going to hate me now, but a number of the acts you mentioned were actually far from being one hit wonders.
Shirley Bassey had top ten hits with the Banana Boat Song which got to number 8 in '57 and hands across the sea which got to number 1 in '59. Since Goldfinger, she has enjoyed other chart successes too, so that counts her out.
Easybeats had at least three hits - one of which went to number one before Friday on my mind, so they're out.
Status Quo - you're joking right? I don't mean to be rude, but Status Quo must be one of the most famous bands in the world. They have had chart success with over sixty releases - more than any other band in history.
T-Rex - Ride a white swan, Children of the revolution to name but two to go along with get it on.
Thin Lizzy - were famous before 48 hours came out with Whiskey in the Jar. The Boys are back in town was not the end of their career either.
David Essex was quite a heartthrob and had several hits including hold me close during the seventies, especially after his appearance in the movies That'll be the day and Stardust.
Mike Oldfield's tubular bells was followed by a whole string of albums and included singles five miles out and in dolce jubilo, both of which enjoyed chart success.